Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal; Emission Defect Information Report; Emission Recall Audit Program; and Emission Control Defect Survey

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[AMS-FRL-5432-6]

Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal; Emission

Defect Information Report; Emission Recall Audit Program; and Emission

Control Defect Survey

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501

et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the

following proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests

(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting

the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on

specific aspects of the proposed information collections as described

below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Vehicle Programs & Compliance Division (6405J), 401 M

Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Interested persons may request a

copy of the ICRs, without charge, by writing, faxing, or phoning the

contact persons below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ICR-1: Steve Albrink, Office of Mobile

Sources, Vehicle Programs & Compliance Division, (202) 233-9003, (202)

233-9596 fax).

ICR-2: Kerrin Bressant, Office of Mobile Sources, Vehicle Programs

& Compliance Division, (202) 233-9291, (202) 233-9596 (fax).

ICR-3: Sonny Kakar, Office of Mobile Sources, Vehicle Programs &

Compliance Division, (202) 233-9467, (202) 233-9596 (fax), E-mail

address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Request for Comments: This notice requests

comments on three different Information Collection Activities (ICRs)

related to highway and nonroad motor vehicles and other engines for

which the Agency plans to request renewal of their authorizations under

the Paperwork Reduction Act. The different ICRs will be referred to as

ICR-1, ICR-2 and ICR-3 in the succeeding sections below.

ICR-1: Emission defect information and voluntary emissions recall

reporting and record keeping requirements for manufacturers of on-

highway light-duty motor vehicles, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty

engines; and large nonroad compression ignition engines; and nonroad

spark-ignition engines at and below 19 kilowatts.

ICR-2: Emission recall audit program voluntary request for

information to determine whether manufacturers are in compliance with

recall procedural regulations, and to determine the cause of

ineffectual recall campaigns.

ICR-3: Vehicle emission control defect survey questionnaire

reporting and record keeping requirements for owners and repair

facilities of on-highway light-duty motor vehicles, light-duty trucks,

heavy-duty engines; and large non-road compression ignition engines.

Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal: ICR-1: OMB No.

2060-0048.

ICR-2: OMB No. 2060-0046.

ICR-3: OMB No. 2060-0047.

Affected Entities: ICR-1: Entities potentially affected by this

action are manufacturers of on-highway light-duty vehicles, light-duty

trucks, and heavy-duty engines; manufacturers of large nonroad

compression ignition engines; and manufacturers of small nonroad spark-

ignition engines.

ICR-2: Entities potentially affected by this action are individual

vehicle owners of on-highway light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks.

ICR-3: Entities potentially affected by this action are owners and

repair facilities of on-highway light-duty vehicles, light-duty trucks,

heavy-duty engines, and large non-road compression ignition engines.

Titles: ICR-1: Emission Defect Information Reports and Voluntary

Emissions Recall Reports (OMB # 2060-0048, approved through 5/31/96.)

ICR-2: Emission Recall Audit Program Owner Questionnaire (OMB #

2060-0046, approved through 5/31/96.)

ICR-3: Vehicle Emission Control Defect Survey Questionnaire for on-

highway light-duty motor vehicles, light-duty trucks, heavy-duty

engines, and large non-road compression ignition engines. (OMB # 2060-

0047, approved through 5/31/96.)

Abstracts: An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is

not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it

displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers

for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter

15.

EPA would like to solicit comments to:

(i) Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information are

necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,

including whether the information will have practical utility;

(ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden

of the proposed collections of information, including the validity of

the methodologies and assumptions used;

(iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information

to be collected; and

(iv) Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those

who are to respond, including through the use of the appropriate

automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection

techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting

electronic submission of responses.

ICR-1: Some manufacturers of motor vehicles and certain engines are

required to submit two different reports under 40 CFR Part 85, Subpart

T, Part 89, Subpart I and Part 90, Subpart I. These reports are only

required where certain conditions involving emission defects or

voluntary recalls occur. The ``defect information report'' (DIR)

contains data regarding the class or engine family and number of

vehicles or engines on which a defect has been found, and a description

of the defect and its effects on vehicle or engine performance and

emissions. The Agency uses the DIR to help identify emission-related

defects or classes of vehicles or engines which may not comply with

federal emissions standards.

The ``voluntary emission recall'' (VER) report contains data on

voluntary recall campaigns conducted by manufacturers, including the

procedures used by the manufacturers to conduct voluntary recall

campaigns, the identification of vehicles or engines affected by the

campaign, and the repair to be completed on recalled vehicles or

engines; progress or quarterly updates of the VER reports track the

number of vehicles or engines repaired. The Agency uses the VER report

and progress reports to ensure that manufacturers are following

acceptable procedures when conducting recalls and to track the progress

and effectiveness of voluntary recall campaigns.

ICR-2: The Vehicle Compliance Programs Group (VCPG), Vehicle

Programs and Compliance Division (VPCD), Office of Mobile Sources

(OMS), Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), uses this information

collection to enforce the Recall and Defect Reporting Regulations of 40

CFR Part 85, Subparts S and T. Individual owners of on-road light-duty

motor vehicles and light-duty trucks may be asked to provide

information on vehicles that have been recalled. The Vehicles

Compliance Programs Group (VCPG) uses such information to evaluate the

effectiveness of various aspects of a recall campaign, to determine

whether manufacturers are in compliance with

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recall procedural regulations, and to determine the cause of

ineffective recall campaigns. The information is obtained from

individuals through a questionnaire administered by telephone

interviews or in written format. The information collection effort will

involve approximately 300 respondents at a cost of $900.00 over a one-

year period.

The projected annual cost burden per respondent is as follows:

reading or listening to questions, burden cost is $1.60. Responding to

questions (verbally or in writing), burden cost is $1.40.

The total annual hour burden for respondents is 75 hours at a total

annual cost of $900.

ICR-3: The Vehicle Compliance Programs Group (VCPG) of the Vehicle

Programs and Compliance Division (VPCD) and the Engine Compliance

Programs Group (ECPG) of the Engine Programs and Compliance Division

(EPCD), Office of Mobile Sources (OMS), Office of Air and Radiation

(OAR), uses this information collection to gather additional data to

supplement in-use testing programs as well as provide possible evidence

in support of EPA's position during an administrative hearing. When EPA

orders a manufacturer to recall a certain class of motor vehicles (in

accordance with Clean Air Act Sec. 207(c)) but the manufacturer

disagrees with EPA's findings, the manufacturer may request an

administrative hearing. During such a hearing, EPA must make a detailed

presentation of facts showing that the class of vehicles in question

should indeed be recalled. Facts to be included in such a presentation

consist of information on the maintenance and performance history of

vehicles belonging to the class. Dealerships, fleets, or individual

owners of motor vehicles or engines may be asked to provide information

on the vehicles or engines at issue. The information is obtained

through a questionnaire administered by telephone interviews with

individual vehicle owners, and by telephone or in-person interviews

with dealerships or fleets.

Burden Statement: Burden means the total time, effort, or financial

resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or

disclose or provide information to or for a federal agency. This

includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire,

install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of

collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and

maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information;

adjusting the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable

instructions and requirements; training personnel to be able to respond

to a collection of information; searching data sources; completing and

reviewing the collection of information; and transmitting or otherwise

disclosing the information.

ICR-1: Tables 1, 2 and 3 below represent the estimated annual

burden for this ICR.

Table 1.--On-Highway Light-Duty Motor Vehicle, Light-Duty Truck, and Heavy-Duty Engine Manufacturer Burden Hours

and Costs

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Voluntary

Defect emission VER quarterly

Collection activity information recall (VER) (progress)

reports reports/ reports

records

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Ave. Burden Hours/Response...................................... 14 11.5 1.5

Estimated Frequency of Response................................. 2.8 2.9 17.4

Total Burden Hours Per Respondent............................... 39.2 33.4 26.1

Estimated No. of Respondents.................................... 15 13 13

Total Burden Hours.............................................. 588 434.2 339.3

Total Cost Per Respondent ($)................................... 2,290 1,427 1,375

Total Cost ($).................................................. 34,350 18,551 17,875

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Table 2.--Large Non-Road Compression Ignition Engine Manufacturer Burden Hours and Costs

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Voluntary

Defect emission VER quarterly

Collection activity information recall (VER) (progress)

reports reports/ reports

records

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Ave. Burden Hours/Response...................................... 14 11.5 1.5

Estimated Frequency of Response................................. 1 1 6

Total Burden Hours Per Respondent............................... 14 11.5 9

Estimated No. of Respondents.................................... 5 5 5

Total Burden Hours.............................................. 70 57.5 45

Total Cost Per Respondent ($)................................... 818 492 474

Total Cost ($).................................................. 4,090 2,460 2,370

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Table 3.--Small Nonroad Spark Ignition Engine Manufacturer Burden Hours and Costs

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Voluntary

Defect emission

Collection activity information recall (VER) VER progress

reports reports/ reports

records

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Ave. Burden Hours/Response...................................... 14 11.5 1.5

Estimated Frequency of Response................................. 1 1 1

Total Burden Hours Per Respondent............................... 14 11.5 1.5

Estimated No. of Respondents.................................... 5 5 5

Total Burden Hours.............................................. 70 57.5 7.5

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Total Cost Per Respondent ($)................................... 818 492 79

Total Cost ($).................................................. 4,090 2,460 395

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ICR-2: The projected hour burden is as follows: reading or

listening to questions, burden hours = 8 minutes. Responding to

questions (verbally or in writing), burden hours = 7 minutes. The

frequency of response is once per respondent per year. The estimated

number of likely respondents is 300. The total burden for all

respondents is 75 hours.

The projected cost burden is as follows: reading or listening to

questions, burden cost = $1.60. Responding to questions (verbally or in

writing), burden cost = $1.40. The total cost for all respondents is

$900.

ICR-3: EPA's burden estimates for this collection are broken down

according to the respondent burden and cost. EPA may perform two

surveys annually, one of manufacturers of on-highway light-duty motor

vehicles or light-duty trucks, and the other of heavy-duty engines or

large non-road compression ignition engines, which will require either

telephone or in-person interviews with one hundred (100) individual

vehicle owners or dealerships or fleets per survey. A burden estimate

of twenty (20) minutes per individual vehicle owner is based on agency

experience with similar questions asked of individuals as part of the

in-use recall testing program. A burden estimate of thirty (30) minutes

per dealership or fleet is based on contact with dealership and fleets

made as part of the in-use recall testing program. The burden estimate

is calculated from an average of the two different burdens assuming

that one half of the respondents are individual vehicle owners and the

other half are dealerships or fleets. Therefore, the total respondent

burden will be 2,500 minutes for each survey. Individuals, dealerships,

or fleets will be asked to respond to only one survey in any given

year. Costs to respondents associated with this ICR are attributed to

individual or staff time involved in responding to the information

requests. The costs for respondents for reading or listening to and

responding to questions (verbally or in writing) are $8.50 per

respondent. Therefore, the total respondent cost for each survey will

be $850.

Dated: February 23, 1996.

Robin Miles-McLean,

Acting Director, Office of Mobile Sources.

[FR Doc. 96-4961 Filed 3-1-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P